The Majesty of Choice

Ready

He hates how loud his knuckles sound as they rap against the door. It's too loud, filling too much space. He's been in here before, why is he so nervous about it? Usually, his Uncle doesn't send for him. He'd rather avoid Frank or maybe hide from Frank what he's done.

Why did he leave Gerard all alone? Yes, his Uncle asked to speak with him privately, but that's not an excuse to be away from Gerard.

Poor Gerard, all alone in Frank's room. He put some clothes on, because they both thought that would be beneficial. Gerard seemed fine, Frank went and grabbed Gerard's book which he's so fond of that he decides to travel the Kingdom with it, and that made him happy enough. Though he did make fun of Frank for having a couch and chairs in his bedroom because apparently there's too much seating in the castle.

He just wants to make this chat quick so that he can go back to Gerard. That's what he wants from everything right now, he wants to make it quick so that he can go be with Gerard.

"Ah, nephew," Edgar says in a voice that they both know is feigning excitement but neither of them is going to acknowledge it. "Do come in."

"Yes, you sent for me?" Frank says.

"I did, yes," he nods, and gestures a gloved hand towards a chair, but Frank declines to sit in it, preferring to stand and look at his uncle awkwardly.

"What is this about?"

"Well, nephew, you are very close to becoming King."

"Of course," Frank says, nodding. Please don't bring up his coronation, please, please. Frank doesn't want to think about it actually happening. Yes, he's more prepared for it now than he ever has been, and he's almost excited to be King, but he's terrified of it actually happening. It's one thing to know you want something, it's another thing to be given it.

"Well, as a soon to be King, I am wondering what inclined you to bring not one, but three strangers into this castle? Surely you must realize how dangerous that is. Any one of these individuals could be traitors to the crown or attempt to bring you down an incorrect path."

"Is that... is that really what you wanted to talk about? That I brought friends?"

"These are strangers! I have heard that one of them is an elf! Frank, you really shouldn't be consorting with-"

"He's my friend. They're all my friends."

"Nephew, you don't have friends. Never before have you-"

"Well I have friends now. And I brought them to the castle for various reasons. Specifically, I'm going to be showing one of them to the hall of records. He's looking for someone, and I intend to help him look. About him-"

Edgar is the one to interrupt Frank this time, "You must understand how dangerous that is. You don't know these boys, they could mean you ill will. Or mean me ill will. You've only just met them. If you don't send these boys away, I'll have it done myself."

"Okay, well that's not going to happen," Frank says, and this is the first time in his entire life where he's ever talked back to his Uncle, and he's done it like three times in the last minute.

"Nephew?"

"I'm practically King. My word is very important too, Uncle. You don't have total power. If I say that they are to stay, then they are to stay. You can't stop that."

The two of them war each other with eyes only, Edgar daring him to say something, Frank maintaining his hold. Frank isn't wrong. Just because Edgar is King doesn't mean Frank is stripped of rights. If they're Frank's guests in the castle, they're his guests. He's waiting for his Uncle to challenge him. Because honestly, they both know Frank will win. There are a few Knights who have total and utter devotion to Edgar, and some that have respect in a more healthy dosage to Frank. He's not sure which of them has more supporters, but either way he knows that no one, not even the one's devoted entirely to his Uncle, would dare challenge the man who is viewed by many people to be the rightful King.